Circuit-reversing drum for signal mechanism.



R. &. J. w. CAIRNS.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Tm: COLUMBIA ILANOGRAPII c0, WASHINGTON, D. Q

@Mm L ROBERT CAIRNS AND J'QSEPH W. CAIRNS, OF WATEBTOWN, WISCONSIN.

CIRCUIT-REVERSING DRUM FOR SIGNAL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed June 19, 1914. Serial No. 846,052.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT CAIRNS and Josiirn 1V. Camus, both citizens of the United States, and residents of \Vatertown, in the county of J efferscn and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Reversing Drums for Signal Mechanism; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention has for its object to provide a simple, economical and eifective signal mechanism for railway systems, the same being especially adapted for use in connection with railway crossings and under such conditions the invention contemplates utilizing gates which are automatically raised and lowered under control of a train passing over an insulated section of track. It should also be understood that, while we have shown as an exemplification of our invention, gates in connection with a railway crossing, semaphores or other signals can be operated with equal eificiency.

lVith the above obiect in view our invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying illustration and subsequently claimed.

The drawing illustrates a diagrammatic view of a section of railway track provided with gates connected to electrically controlled actuating mechanism embodying the features oi our invention.

Referring by characters to the drawing, 1, 1, represent insulated sections of a railway track and 2 one member of a truck adapted to travel thereover, the said insu-- lated sections constituting part of the continuous track, as shown.

2, 2, represent shiftable signals in the form of gates, which gates are flexibly connected to arotor carrying a drum 4 to which the flexible connection is secured. The rotor 3 is formed from fiber or other insulating material hazing a metallic ring 5 disposed about its periphery, which ring is electri cally connected to a metallic sector 6 that is embedded in the face of the rotor. The sector, as shown, is semicircular in form and is provided with an outer terminal extension 6 and an inner terminal extension 6 upon its opposite end and when the signals or gates are raised to indicate that the track is clear, as shown in the dlagram, the sector extension 6 is in contact with a reversing brush 7, there being a corresponding reversing brush 7 in alinement with the first menticned brush, which latter brush is clear of the sector plate, whereby contact between the same is broken. The rotor is in back gear connection with an electric motor C having brushes 8, 8. The metallic ring 5 of the rotor is engaged by contact member 9, which member is connected by a line wire Him a suitable source of electrical energy B. The return line wire 11 from the source of energy is connected to one member 12 of a circuit make and break mechanism, the companion contact member 12 being connected by a conductor wire 13 to the motor brush 8. The wire 13 is also connected to a contact member 14 and the companion contact member 14' of the latter is connected by a wire 13 to the reverse brush 7 of the rotor. The reverse brush 7 is connected by a wire 15 to a contact member 16, the companion contact member 16 being connected by an extension 15 of the wire 15, which wire is connected to the motor brush 8'. The motor brush 8' is also connected to a contact member 17 by a wire 18 and the companion contact member 17 is connected by a wire 18' to the return or line wire 11 of the main circuit which receives its source from the generator B. The contact members 17, 17', and 12, 12, constitute part of a cir-, cuit make and break mechanism, which make and break mechanism is operated by an armature a under control of a magnet b. The companion contact members 14, 14', and 16, 16' constitute part of a second make and break mechanism which is actuated by an armature a under control of a magnet b, the magnets b and I) being adapted to move the armature in one direction in opposition to coiled springs (Z and d as shown. A conductor wire 19 is connected to one of the insulated rail sections and a source of energy or battery A, from which source of energy a conductor 20 extends and connects the magnets b, b. A return wire 21 connects the magnet b with the op osite rail section 1 constituting part of the insulated block.

When the parts are in the position shown in the diagram, with the truck 2 bridging the rail sections 1, 1, it is obvious that the auxiliary circuit controlled by the battery A will be closed, whereby the magnets b and b are energized, causing their respective armatures to lift to the position shown,

whereby the contact members 17, 17 and 14, 14 are closed. Current from the line wire 10 will then travel through the ring 5 to the sector and from thence through the reverse brush 7, conductor wires 13, 18, to one side of the motor and from thence the current will return through conductor wires 18, 18, and back to the source of energy B through line wire 11. Thus the motor circuit is completed and the rotor will be caused to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow, whereby the gates 2 or signal members are permitted to drop. After the rotor has completed approximately one-half of a revolution, it will be understood that the brush 7 will have traveled beyond the end of the sector 6, whereby the motor circuit is broken and hence the rotor, together with the motor, will come to rest. The parts will remain in the above described position until such time as the last truck wheels of the train will have passed beyond the insulated section of track. When the train has cleared the insulated section or block of track, it is apparent that the make and break auxiliary circuit which controls the magnets Z), Z), will have been broken and hence the armatures d and (Z will be retracted by their spring connections. This action of the armatures will cause the contact members 12, 12, and 16, 16, of the respective make and break mechanisms to be closed. After the rotor has completed the half revolution previously described, it will be observed that, while the reverse brush 7 is no longer in contact with the sector 6, the reverse brush 7 has effected Contact with the sector by its engagement with the sector extension 6". Hence, when the auxiliary circuit is broken, as stated, current from the main line will be directed through the sector brush '7 and from thence to the opposite brush 8 of the motor through conductor wires 15 and 15. The motor circuit thus effected in reverse will be completed through conductor wire 13, contact members 12 and 12, and back to the source if energy B, through the conductor line wire 11. Hence itwill be observed that the motor will be energized and caused ti rotate in a reverse direction from that previously described whereby the gates or signals will be lifted to indicate a clear track, which indication is eifected after the train has passed the crossing. It should also be understood that, while we have shown and described a specific arrangement of wiring and contact members in connection with the make and break mechanisms for effecting the desired result, we may, without departing from the spirit of our invention, vary the arrangement of wiring within the knowledge of skilled electricians, the essential feature being the arrangement of rotor, whereby the circuits are controlled.

We claim:

1. A circuit reversing drum for signal mechanism having a body of nonconducting material, a metallic ring mounted thereon, a contact member engageable with the ring, a metallic semi-circular plate fitted to the face of the drum body in circuit with the ring, an outer terminal contact extension at one end of the semi-circular plate, an inner terminal contact extension at the diametrically opposite end of the plate, and pairs of contact brushes having ends alined with an imaginar line intersecting the axis of the drum and the opposite contact extensions, whereby a circuit is closed from the main supply ring and one contact brush when the drum is at rest in one position and through the opposite contact ring when the drum has described a half revolution in the opposite direction.

2. A circuit reversing drum for signal mechanism having a body of non-conducting material, a metallic ring mounted thereon, a contact member engageable with the ring, a metallic semi-circular plate fitted to the face of the drum body in circuit with the ring, an outer terminal contact extension at one end of the semi-circular plate, an inner terminal contact extension at the diametrically opposite end of the plate, and pairs of contact brushes having ends alined with an imaginary line intersecting the axis of the drum and the opposite contact extensions, whereby a circuit is closed from the main supply ring and one contact brush when the drum is at rest in one position and through the opposite contact ring when the drum has described a half revolution in the opposite direction.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands at Watertown in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin in the presence of two witnesses;

nonnnr canine, JOSEPH w. earners.

Witnesses:

EMIL TANCK, ARCHIE ERICKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 30. C. 

